Idol Chatter

Christians Rock Tonight’s Tube: Amy Grant and Jennifer Knapp

What a bonanza tonight should be for Christian music fans. Late night, Amy Grant will be talking about her first album in six years on ABC’s “Nightline,” while on CNN at 9 p.m., Larry King interviews Jennifer Knapp, the Christian singer who announced her own return to recording after seven years away with the announcement that she is gay.
With Knapp on King will be Clay Aiken, the “American Idol” contestant who admitted in 2008 what everbody seemed to know during his rise to fame in “Idol’s” second-season, former National Association of Evangelicals president Ted Haggard, who lost his post because of a gay-sex scandal, and the evangelical pastor Bob Botsford, who criticized Knapp in a recent blog post.
A more balanced and informative show would feature Amy Grant with Jennifer Knapp. I don’t know that Grant has anything in particular to say about homosexuality. But I’ll wager that she, like many industry people in Christian Nashville, has a gay friend or two, churched or unchurched. She, or nearly any music star, could offer a perspective on homosexuals that King’s show will almost certainly miss.

Botsford, pastor of the Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., outpost of the Horizon network of evangelical churches, says in his post that “God abhors any form of sexual sin, be it premarital sex, adultery, prostitution, or homosexuality.”
Perhaps, but Christians treat homosexuals differently in practice. Gay people are welcomed into the best, most faithful homes in Nashville, and Knapp’s announcement that she is “a normal human being who’s dealing with normal, everyday life scenarios” in the context of a same-sex relationship didn’t exactly earn her immediate ostracism. Christianity Today’s response was to publish a long, unrepentant interview with Knapp, who has just come off a tour with fellow Christian artist Derek Webb.
Nobody in Nashville is ready to champion Knapp’s cause. “It should be about the music, not making a statement,” says an insider who has followed Knapp’s career closely. But hip young evangelicals are edging toward acceptance, and that is the real story.

I am sorry that she came out like she did. She needs to realize that yes sin is sin, but there is a difference between fighting sinful desires and coming out and admitting that you are giving in.

Gay Friends of Amy Grant

Amy is very aware of her huge gay following and has gay/lesbian friends. http://www.facebook.com/gayfriendsofamy We applaud Jennifer for being honest and putting a face to the world what it’s like to be a gay Christian. We love you Amy and Jennifer!

http://www.hillsideslide.blogspot.com Tina C

Way to go Jenn! I’ve been waiting for an interview like that for YEARS.

Tracy

Accept the sinner, not the sin!!

Turn or burn

Turn from sin, DON’T give in.
If the girl starts saying God “made her Gay” then you’ll really see that she’s given herself over to the spirit/demon of homosexuality. Pray that she repents.

Joan

I am very proud of Jennifer for standing tall in the midst of all these stones being hurled at her! I missed the show as I wasn’t home but plan on catching it in its entirety tommorrow. Saw a clip, and read some feedback and some dribble. Have been a fan since she first started out and am even more so as I see someone who trusts in HIS love more daily.

Matt

Jennifer Knapp’s music has touched my life in so many ways over the last ten years. Her new music is having the same affect. Nothing about her latest revelation has changed how God has used her talent to impact my life.
So, being that she is gay and I’m not, who am I to judge this woman for being a lesbian? When and where did God sanction any of us to point our fingers at this woman? I wish Christians would accept Jennifer as a human being who just happens to be an enormously talented musician…and trust God will reconcile His purpose in her life, regardless of what we think.

Joan

‘Bob’ someone has got to share with you, in love merely..that “irregardless” is not a proper word. Lol just sayin.

Jenna

What an amazing person. And talk about a lot of courage in a very condemning circle of religious that she has had to please for soNow listen here, all you people who call yourselves Christ followers. I have had problems with God, mostly due to your judgemental church practices and ostrasizing since I’ve come out as transgender. You need to take a really good look in the mirror and see how ugly you can really be toward people who don’t just try to be good little Christians, but who want to be happy. I wasn’t happy as a man and I tried everything, church, prayer and counseling. I was born this way. It’s not a sin, if you are born to have love toward women or if you never felt like what everyone is saying you are. I have been close to suicide many times, due to not fitting in and feeling like what everyone says I am. Do yourselves a big favor and stop worrying about yourselves or anyone else going to hell. If the scare tactics are the reason why you are concerned about everyone and feel like judging is the answer, you should probably examine the source of your troubles.

Jason

It’s very sad that this lovely young woman has fallen into this deceiving lie that makes her think that that this is her true calling in life. She must realize that she’s turning down the wrong path and not getting closer but walking away form god. We Christians need to keep this young lady in prayer and hope she wakes up at what she’s doing and repents.Don’t condem her but pray for her return to god.

MARCELO

I agree Jason we should keep her in prayer and not condemn her. Only GOD can judge her, but I also want to say that just because he recognize that her behavior is sinful that doesn’t mean were casting stones at her. I also want to say that I was disappointed with the ex Pastor Ted Haggard. Because when Larry King asked him if he felt that homosexuality was a sin and he didn’t answer the question, instead he danced around it.

JeffTN62

Jennifer has used this as PR stunt to sell records, the Christian market would have dried up as she knew she couldnt go back to that market. Brave to come out? possibly, but I think like her choice to take up the gay banner this is a choice about exposure and records sales with some spiritual justification to bring in those on the fringe.
Ephesians 4:18 (New International Version)
18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

dwc2233

As the the level of immorality rises in this nation, so does the philosophy change to meet the new culture. Sexual sin destroys nations, families, and churches – wake up people – wake up!

Steve J.

I for one don’t buy into this I’m a Christian lesbian. There’s no such thing, you are either a Christian or you are a lesbian, the two cannot go hand in hand. She may be fooling herself, but she’s not fooling real committed Christians

Marcel

Well, There has been a lot controversy over this. Yes whether people like it or not homosexuality is a sin, and yes it is Gods role to judge We as Christians are to proclaim truth and love one another, just not the sin and let me make this clear sin is sin no sin is worse then another (before some one goes there yes there is blasphemy of the holy spirit) But there has been one thing troubling me the past while. There is no fear of the Lord anymore… So many Christians do what they want and think they will not have to pay for it that they can just ask forgiveness… There is pre martial sex, judgment, drunkenness and well people just putting on the show. What has happend to the fear of the Lord ? There consequence for out actions either here on earth or after life here.
The choices we make though often just don’t effect us but can filter down to people we care about. From fellowing what we think is right and that God accepts it well if it goes against the word it is wrong.
I seen this in people I know from the body there choices that drive wedges into marriages, family’s and even our churches. People it is time to take out bible off the shelf read it and do as it says not what feels right or God is cool with this attitude
I am verry concerned about this and pray that we get back where we should be and have a fear of the Lord we are long over due

Tim

(I’m sorry if this may seem a little off topic but it’ something that I feel I should put out there) I think that people cry “Sinner!”, “You’re going to hell!” and various other offensive statements at homosexuals, but they forget that:
a) That dirty thought you had about that hot person you saw today on the bus? (for example) It is a sin equally abhorred by God as homosexuality
(“But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” Matthew 5:28-29)
and we would all go to hell if it wasn’t for:
b) We are saved by the grace of God
We are called to love each other like Jesus did, unconditionally and with grace. We are taught to treat each other as we wish to be treated so why then do we overlook our own sins, which are as hated by Gd as homosexuality or any other sin, and think it’s ok to treat homosexuals the way they are often badly treated in society?

Bev

I would never treat a person who practices homosexuality unkindly, but neither would I condone the action. I wouldn’t condone stealing, gossip, swearing, etc. because the Bible says they are also wrong to do. I am only a sinner that has been forgiven by God’s grace, but now I am obligated to try to live a different life. If I were attracted to a woman, I would ask God to give me the strength to turn away, just as I would do if I were attracted to a man I wasn’t married to. No, we cannot do whatever we choose. We can’t make something, so clearly stated as wrong, become right, no matter how badly we want. At the same time, to treat anyone ungraciously is a sin.

Joel Kim

I don’t understand conservative Christians’ refusal to look at facts.
Fact. The greek language from which have translated God’s word does not include a word that describes homosexuality between two consenting adults. Any and all passages referring to it in the New Testament refer either to temple prostitution or pedophilia. Do your research and you’ll understand why Ms. Knapp can be both a lesbian and a christian.
How arrogant of you to claim that I am not a “true, committed” christian because I’m not condemning her like the rest of our community? How arrogant of any of us to assume that we have a full understanding of the will of our creator– and omniscient and omnipotent God? I continue to strive every day to fulfill God’s plan for my life– and I believe Jennifer when she says she is doing the same.
If I’m wrong, if Jennifer’s wrong, if you’re wrong– we won’t know until we are taken into the arms of our savior in heaven. But I refuse to spend my time here on earth trying to bring down a brother or sister in Christ. She is not our enemy. Even if what she believes does not completely align with what your or I believes, what we have in common is we are all saved by grace and know the love of a gracious savior. Let’s focus our energies on spreading that love to a world that does not know God, and less time in fighting.
God bless.

Shawn

Joel Kim all I can say is Amen.
The sad thing about many Christians is that we give our lives to him then spend the rest of it trying to take his place on the throne of judgment. God have mercy on all of us if we think we are Him or have the right to stand in judgment of any one.
He called us to serve Him, to reach the world for Him, to love as He loves. Even his staunchest critics and accusers he loved them and forgave them even as he was dying for ALL our sins.
Being a Christian doesn’t make you pious or better than anyone one else…it makes you forgiven and standing before his presence striving to do your best for him, loving everyone and praying for his guidance. It doesn’t give anyone the right to judge (judge not lest you be judged). We might not understand or agree with someone’s choices in life but that is their walk and all you can do is pray for them. We must work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. If we all did that we would be more worried about doing what is right in our lives before Him that what everyone else is doing in theirs.
I agree it is time we stood up for what we believe….that should be the love of God to reach the world for Him. Not passing out our staunch criticisms because it is what someone else told me to believe or what someone else says the Bible says, know it and understand it for yourself.
The true body of Christ should be there for the hurting, cover with love the ones who are sick….why oh why are Christians the first ones to start tearing someone up. I don’t understand it…it’s not the God I serve that teaches me that. He loved us enough to send His only son to die for us….would that kind of love be ready to tear down the hurting…and let me tell ya Gay people hurt just like we do and in ways we could never understand. Maybe if they seen more of Him in us maybe they would be turning to God instead of to the world for help. Shame on us all if we have not learned that God is love not hate.

Irene

It’s sad to hear a lot of these comments giving her praise for standing up..Yes who are we to judge..Live the life you want that’s okay but don’t say you are a Christian…You are Save or you are not..You are a Christian and Believe(ALL) Bible or You don’t..We will all face judgment one day and will have to answer two things to God..1)Do we Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and He came to Save us..2) What did we do with the life He gave us here on earth…Yes we need to pray for her..

KAY PAYNE

I BELIEVE IF GOD INTENDED FOR US TO HAVE SAME SEX RELATIONSHIPS AND OR MARRIAGE, HE WOULD HAVE NOT GIVEN ADAM AND EVE AS THE EXAMPLE IN GENESIS.HE CREATED ADAM AND EVE, NOT ADAM AND STEVE. SAME SEX CAN NOT PRODUCE CHILDREN, GOD SAID BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY. HE ALSO SAYS IF A MAN LIE WITH A MAN AS WITH A WOMAN IT IS AN ABOMINATION. I DON’T HAVE ANY TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING THAT. SEXUALLY CONFUSED PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE GOD’S WORD AND TWIST IT AND TRY TO MAKE IT CONDONE THEIR SIN. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE LOVED AND WELCOMED INTO THE CHURCH BUT IF THEY CONTINUE IN THEIR SAME SEX RELATIONSHIPS THEY SHOULD NOT HOLD ANY KIND OF OFFICE OR BE USED IN AN AUTHORITY POSITION. THEY SHOULD REFRAIN FROM SEX. SEX OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE IS WRONG, AND I DO NOT BELIEVE PEOPLE OF THE SAME SEX SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO GET MARRIED. IT IS JUST ONE MORE WAY THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY IS BEING DESTROYED. I REFRAIN FROM SEX BECAUSE I’M NOT MARRIED, EVERYONE ELSE WHO LOVES GOD AND PUTS HIM FIRST SHOULD DO THE SAME. WE ARE SUPPOSE TOP PUT OUR FLESH UNDER THE SUMISSION OF CHRIST. NOT GIVE INTO FLESHLY SIN SUCH AS SEX, OR ANY OTHER SIN TALKED ABOUT IN SCRIPTURE. BE HOLY EVEN AS I AM HOLY! GOD SAID! IF IT WERE NOT POSSIBLE HE WOULD NOT HAVE SAID IT.

Michelle

I growing to finally understand how the world works. People only use their Christian views when it suits them. In one breath you say Homosexuality is wrong because our Lord said so. Well okay thats fine but did He not also state treat others how you want to be treated and you shall be judged as harshly as you judge the next. Our Lord and Savior is the only one who can say what is and isn’t permitted not man and not you. I have gay friends but I don’t let them influence me in my life or my belief. It is not my place to tell them they are going to hell because of their lifestyles. We read the same Bible and if that is how they live no sin is greater than the next. Being gay is the same as committing adultery or killing someone but those sins are all forgiven by one. Him. So next time you look at a homosexual and you want to say something, don’t because He didn’t give that power to you. I applaud Kristin Chenoweth for doing exactly what God tells us to do, treat everyone with kindness. Man made up the word tolerance. It has nothing to do with this situation. Being kind is being kind, I don’t care who eyes you look through, because I’m worried about His not yous.

Dean

Kay, people like you are a pain… pun intended! Irene…get a life, and a brain! Couldn’t be bothered spending any energy saying anymore.

Dean

Michelle, you are a worry… kind, kind of, but full of blind ignorance.

I always liked the songs of Amy Grant and his amazing music. I’m a huge fan and I already got tickets from Ticketsinventory. I’m waiting impatiently!

http://AddaURLtothiscomment MarkPMus

I am so grateful that God is much more merciful than some of the people who post here – being gay is the same “sin” as killing someone??!! I don’t think so! That was one of the more sympathetic comments on here! It is so sad that so-called “modern” Christians who attend “modern” churches still regard God as some sort of sadistic bully who punishes those who don’t “obey” his rules. So what about those people who do “obey the rules”? Bad things still happen to them! This “we are all sinners” so God has to somehow deal with that – even by “sending” Jesus Christ doesn’t sit easy with me. It is not official Anglican doctrine and has its origins in the feudal system of medieval times, when “honour” had to be defended at all costs. God himself died on a cross to show that death can and will be ultimately overcome.

A lot of the comments on here are pure idolatry – imposing their own set of morals onto some sort of “out there” God who is what “they want him to be”. Not helped at all by the so-called Christian market. Poor Amy couldn’t even do a normal thing like have marital troubles without a metaphorical stoning because “the industry” had set her up on a pedestal as an ideal – again this is idolatry. (And bad financial sense if the “Christian stockists” refuse to accept an openly imperfect person on their shelves.)

When people stop doing this to God, and go beyond a rulemaker, they will learn that God is experienced in the depths of our being – the “ground” as Paul Tillich would call it. They will learn that “forgive them Father, they know not what they do” really means ending this awful practice of scapegoating (c.f. the “sexual immorality is ruining our society” comments on here – and the equally vitriolic comments made by some gays against Christians or those of other faiths.) They will learn that the ground of our being (God) is experienced by all people when they ponder life’s deep questions. They will learn that at every minute of every hour God is prodding all of us into a deeper relationship with him (see Ignatius of Loyola). Looked at in this way, we learn to accept and celebrate all people, from all walks of life – we identify with their struggles and experience God with them, because God is in communion with each and every person on this planet. It is not easy. But I am convinced that The Bible – and other holy scriptures from other faiths – ultimately point to the love we share with our neighbours and also with ourselves as the major stepping stone to union with God. It’s time we should give each other a break from the beatings.

See Isaiah chapter 1 folks!

“Heaven, what the hell is heaven? Is there a home for the homeless? Is there hope for the hopeless?” Brett Dennen

PS God DID make Adam and Steve – in his image! (Stop trolling out the same old hackneyed phrases, in the vain hope that if you say them enough they will become truth!)

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